BOSS Scott Parker heaped praise on "first-class" Jaidon Anthony, insisting: "Every bit of me suggests that this boy has got a key role to play this year."

Anthony has impressed since the first match of pre-season under Parker, scoring the first goal of the new head coach's reign in a 4-2 friendly win over Real Balompedica Linense.

And the 21-year-old has continued that form into the competitive fixtures, playing the full 90 minutes against both MK Dons in the Carabao Cup and the Championship opener against West Brom.

Anthony also provided an assist from the left wing in the 2-2 draw with the Baggies and Parker admits he has taken the opportunity presented to him with a host of first-team players still out injured.

"He’s definitely grabbed it," Parker told the Daily Echo.

"I’ve come in and like anyone, you sit in front of your computer once you get the job and look at a squad full of players and you look at the names and you have some idea of them.

"I didn’t really know Jaidon, to be honest with you. I didn’t have a real understanding. I watched bits of him, watched clips of him to see what I was coming into.

"But the boy’s grabbed his opportunity and he’s shown good quality, every training session he’s jumped out the page and he’s done very, very well.

"That performance on Friday, I had no worry whatsoever regarding it, because I see the boy’s got quality. He needs his opportunity, he’s got his opportunity and at this present moment he’s taken it.

"The next challenge for Jaidon is consistency now. You often find that with young players. They get their opportunity and now it’s about consistency.

"We know he can perform at this level, he’s shown that. Now consistently can you do that and be the guy that can consistently rack up numbers and be someone who is a mainstay really. I’m hoping that will be the case with him."

Asked if he feels Anthony has what it takes to handle the rigours of Championship football this season, Parker continued: "I’m hoping so. There’s that question mark, of course there is. Because he’s not done that.

"He’s not not done that due to the fact that he’s failed. That’s not the reason. So of course that’s really open in the fact that I’m not sitting here with question marks saying, well he’s played five games before and then never seen again or this is someone who has not played a lot of football and been on loan a little bit.

"Every bit of me suggests that this boy has got a key role to play this year, on what he’s shown me so far.

"The next challenge I’m going to set him and what I’m asking from him is can he prove to me that he’s one that we can trust long term over the course of the season. At this moment in time, he is. But we’ll have to see."

Hackney-born Anthony spent 10 years at Arsenal, before being released aged 17. He headed to Cherries to join their academy in 2016 and, after taking in a loan spell at non-league Weymouth, made his competitive Cherries bow as a substitute in the Championship in December 2020.

"He’s a determined boy," said Parker.

"I’ve not had a day’s bother and I suspect I won’t in terms of everything you set this boy, he’s one that just fronts it up and does it.

"He’s got a mindset and a mentality which I’m sure has had some challenges along the way and maybe rejection at Arsenal and a rejection at young age and finding himself down here, not playing, going on loan has hardened him and toughened him up to that, being desperate at times.

"He’s taken it and he’s got an opportunity, or at least he’s seen an opportunity at the start of pre-season.

"You often find when you’re in those struggles, you find those players or just in general those people that need to grab it more, they’re more desperate in those moments. Certainly I’ve got nothing but high praise for Jaidon, he’s been first-class."